This partially completed monolithic Pallava rock cut temple from Mahabalipuram presents a very good visual representation of how ancient Sthapatis went about carving out material from a monolithic rock. Valayankuttai Ratha was being built during the reign of Parameshvaravarma.
If the Sthapatis had managed to complete the above Temple, it would have looked similar to the Temple below. This is the Arjuna Ratha from the same Pancha Ratha Temple complex. The Upapeetha(base) & Adisthana(plinth) remained incomplete in the previous Ratha.
This is also a good opportunity to understand the different elements that make up a Ratha type temple. It basically comprises of 6 major parts or Angas as it is called in the Shilpashastra.
Lets have a look with the above example
Bottom most part is the Upapeetha, the sub base
On top of the Upapeetha, we have the Adisthana. Usually these two elements are refered as a single element usually. The rest of the Temple structure rests on this element. Sometimes the the Adisthana is intricately carved with a variety of ornate carvings. Usually simhas & Ashvas
The Adisthana itself is further divided in a series of sub parts Kandhara, mahapatti, jagati, kumuda, kampa, kapota, pratimuka, vaajana etc. But we'll have a look at only the basic 6 elements for now.
This part is the Paada(walls). The paada also contain a number of Sthambas(pillars). The recess where carvings are made is called the Koshtha. In the case of the Arjuna Ratha there are 5 carvings
On either side is a Pratihara(Guard). In centre we have Skanda seated on elephant
Then comes the Prasthara or what in english we call as entablature. It is basically a horizontal beam which seperates the Paada(wall) from the upper structure. Prasthara too has a number of elements like Kapota, Uttira, Vyalavari etc. All these elements are intricately decorated
This element is the Haara, the Parapet. The Ratha/Vimana type Temple can have a number of storeys. The Arjuna ratha is an example of a simple single storeyed Temple. A ratha type Temple can have as high as 16 storeys. Each one of them is called jaati vimana.
This element is called the Greeva or the neck.
Finally we have the Shikhara which is the spire. On top of it we usually have a Sthupi or Kalasha(which is not visible here).
These are few elements of a Vimana type temple.
Dharmaraja ratha is the tallest among Pancharatha temples. It is a tri-tala (3 storeyed) Vimana type Temple. Each one of the storeys are functional. Despite its grand look, it is actually an unfinished temple. We can only imagine how much more grander finished one would have been
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History THREAD. When Tirupathi was invaded by the forces of turushka barbarian abdullah qutub shah around the year 1660, a brahmin poet documented the horrors committed by the invader in a series of 100 verses in Telugu. It was called "Sri Venkatachala Vihara Satakamu" (1)
Majority of the verses were a desperate plea to Venkateshwara
Verse 5:
When turks penetrated temples & broke idols into pieces & annoyed acharyas & licked the namams & pulled small tuft of hair of their heads,is it not possible for you to slay them? In my weakness I implore you.
The Kamkhana-ganamu (the men under the commanders) and the superior force under the Vajirs of Golkonda dash the shaven heads of sanyasis against each other like the dashing of rams in a fight; split the Brahma-sutramulu (sacred threads) of Somayajis (3)
THREAD on the history, architecture & sculpture at the Vira Narasimhaswamy temple at Ahobilam, Andhra Pradesh (also known as lower Ahobilam) .Known for its inscriptions, sculptures and a very unique layout, it offers a deep insight into Vijayanagara style temple architecture (1)
The earliest inscription naming the place as Ahobala is from 1124 CE. According to the Sthalapurana, "Ahobilam" comes from 'Ahobala' exclaimed by the devatas upon seeing Narasimha's fierce avatar as he emerged from this Ugra sthamba to slay Hiranyakashipu (2)
The sthalapurana mentions Garuda's penance at Nallamala forest hills, where after years of devotion, Narasimha appeared in a cave, which led to the name Ahobilam signifying strength. Vobula,was the earliest name, & appears in an 8th century Chalukyan inscription (3)
Namaste friends🙏 Had the good fortune of having a darshana at one of the most iconic temples of Bharat last week, the ancient Pallava era Kailasanatha Temple at Kanchi.
This is a thread on the temple's history, architecture & sculptures. There is so much to share. Do read. 🕉️
Firstly, brief history of the temple. It was built during the 8th century by Pallava emperor Rajasimha. The temple also goes by the name Rajasimheshwara. This temple served as the architectural blueprint for the Chalukyas & later Rashtrakutas for their temples at Vatapi & Ellora.
There is a Pallava-Granta inscription in the temple that praises Rajasimha as a great ruler. He is praised as having mastered the vedas and shaiva siddhantha. He is compared to Indra & Kubera
Some of the titles used by Rajasimha were Ishanacharana, Sivachudamani, Kalasamudra.
A detailed THREAD on the history, architecture & sculpture of the Hoysala built Chennakeshava Temple at Somanathapura, Karnataka.
This is going to be a long one & it took me a while to piece all the information together. Do continue reading till the end. Lets's start 🕉️ (1)
The Keshava temple was constructed by Somanatha Dandanayaka on receiving funds from reigning King Narasimha III. This temple was consecrated in 1238 CE & is considered the last major temple building activity undertaken by the Hoysalas. (2)
In front of the entrance of the temple is a 10mt high Dipasthambha. The Temple is enclosed in a prakara wall & is entered through a mantapa on the east. To the left of this mantapa is a 3mt high slab with inscription in both Kannada & Sanskrit dating to the reign of Narasimha (3)
A Thread on the history, architecture, paintings and sculpture at The Veerabhadra swamy temple in Lepakshi, Andhra. The temple represents the awe inspiring architectural brilliance of the Vijayanagara Empire. (1)
Hanumalinga shrine is located at the southwest corner of the pradaksina path that surrounds the garbhagrha & antarala (vestibule) of the Veerabhadra shrine. The entrance to this shrine is situated in the southwest corner of the pradaksina wall. (57)
Facing the east, the shrine consists solely of the garbhagriha, which houses a linga placed on a vedi (pedestal). Above the roof is a four faced Nagara Shikhara. (58)
Da Vinci was undoubtedly a great innovator. But 500 years before him was Paramara Bhoja. He authored the Samarangana Sutradhara, a multi disciplinary text, where he describes building advanced warfare machines including mechanized soliders! This is 500 years before Da Vinci! (1)
Bhoja's legendary work, the Samarangana Sutradhara has no parallel for its time. In this particular chapter called Yantra vidhanam, he describes the method of building advanced mechanical devices like Golakabhramana, Jalayantra & many others. (2)
Bhoja talks about a number of advanced mechanical devices which he calls as "Yantras"
He defines a Yantra as " The device by which the mahabhutas like earth, water, fire, air & ether are controlled. When the free & natural activities of these mahabhutas...cont...(3)